This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/01/afghan-forces-recapture-kunduz-from-taliban
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Afghan forces claim recapture of Kunduz from Taliban | Afghan forces claim recapture of Kunduz from Taliban |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Afghan government says it has recaptured most parts of Kunduz, the northern city seized by the Taliban earlier this week, but the militant group denies the claim. | |
| Afghan special forces launched an operation around 9 pm on Wednesday, alongside regular soldiers and police. They were backed by coalition airstrikes and international troops, thought to be acting in an advisory role. | Afghan special forces launched an operation around 9 pm on Wednesday, alongside regular soldiers and police. They were backed by coalition airstrikes and international troops, thought to be acting in an advisory role. |
| Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kunduz: the high price of international neglect | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kunduz: the high price of international neglect | Editorial |
| “By 3.30 am, our special forces were able to retake the city and clear the city from terrorists,” said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry. | “By 3.30 am, our special forces were able to retake the city and clear the city from terrorists,” said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry. |
| “There are lots of dead bodies of Taliban in the city right now. Hundreds of them,” he said, estimating that at least 200 militants had been killed in the operation. | “There are lots of dead bodies of Taliban in the city right now. Hundreds of them,” he said, estimating that at least 200 militants had been killed in the operation. |
| According to a security official close to the Afghan government, the US military carried out at least two airstrikes. A US military spokesman was not immediately available for comment. | According to a security official close to the Afghan government, the US military carried out at least two airstrikes. A US military spokesman was not immediately available for comment. |
| Photos on social media showed soldiers removing a Taliban flag from the city’s central square. A Kunduz resident said the city was calm on Thursday morning, but a Taliban spokesman said its fighters were still resisting government forces in the centre and controlled most of the rest of Kunduz. | |
| The claim and counter-claim follow three days of heavy fighting after the Taliban seized the city on Monday, in a stunning surprise assault. It was the first time since 2001 that the insurgents have been able to breach a large city. | |
| The militants also captured several districts surrounding Kunduz, which are still largely under their control, according to the government security source. It was part of a broader offensive in the north of the country and officials expect the Taliban to keep attacking military checkpoints and other facilities in the neighbouring provinces of Baghlan and Takhar. | The militants also captured several districts surrounding Kunduz, which are still largely under their control, according to the government security source. It was part of a broader offensive in the north of the country and officials expect the Taliban to keep attacking military checkpoints and other facilities in the neighbouring provinces of Baghlan and Takhar. |